A protected Red Kite endured an ‘agonising death’ after being killed by a banned pesticide in the Highlands. 

RSPB Scotland received a call in April from a dog walker who had found a red kite dead on the ground near to a popular woodland walking trail, adjacent to hill farm land at Spinningdale, near Dornoch in East Sutherland. 

RSPB Investigators notified Police Scotland, collected the bird and sent it for a post-mortem examination and toxicology analysis. The results were consistent with Carbofuran poisoning being the cause of the bird’s death, a pesticide banned for over 20 years.  

Police Scotland and partner agencies conducted a search of the area but found no evidence that enabled them to identify a suspect.  

Ian Thomson, RSPB Investigations Manager, said:  “We are very grateful to the person that found this dead kite for reporting it to us. It is appalling that individuals are still using this poison, decades after it was banned, and this bird will have suffered an agonising and horrific death.

"Carbofuran is a highly toxic substance and is one of several banned pesticides still used by criminals targeting birds of prey or other protected wildlife. Its possession or use is illegal and placing it out in the open poses a potentially deadly and indiscriminate risk not only to wildlife but to people and pets.

"We ask anyone using the area to be vigilant if they find anything suspicious, don’t touch, but do take photos and report to Police Scotland immediately on 101.”  

News of the death comes following the publication of the latest Birdcrime report, which found there were 159 poisoning incidents involving birds of prey between 2009-2024 in Scotland.

Of all UK counties, the Highland area had the second highest number of confirmed incidents of raptor persecution during the same 15-year period.